 Early Times Report
KATRA, Apr 8: In a major step towards ensuring the safety and sustainability of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Jammu and Kashmir, THDC India Limited (THDCIL) signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The agreement, formalized at the Central Office of the Shrine Board in Katra, focuses on conducting slope stability studies and implementing state-of-the-art mitigation measures along the pilgrimage track.
Sh. R.K. Vishnoi, CMD, THDCIL, said the company has continually set benchmarks in the energy sector and has demonstrated its engineering prowess in landslide mitigation, geotechnical consultancy, and slope stabilization, especially in the complex Himalayan terrain. He emphasized that Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, being a sacred site of national faith, deserves robust infrastructure and safety mechanisms for the lakhs of pilgrims visiting every year.
The MoU was signed by Shri Alok Kumar Maurya, IFS, Additional CEO, Shrine Board; Dr. Niraj Agrawal, GM, Design (Civil-II), THDCIL; and Sh. Sanjiv Kumar, Dy. Director General, GSI (NR). The event was graced by Sh. Anshul Garg (IAS), CEO, Shrine Board, and Sh. Shallinder Singh, Director (Personnel), THDCIL.
Sh. Shallinder Singh noted that THDCIL has been the Technical Consultant to the Shrine Board since 2011, reflecting a deep trust in its expertise. He informed that under this MoU, GSI will carry out geological studies, while THDCIL will conduct geotechnical and geophysical assessments and design advanced slope stabilization solutions. He added that THDCIL has already prepared over 430 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for slope and landslide mitigation for various central and state agencies, including projects in J&K, Uttarakhand, Pune, and Shillong.
Sh. Bhupender Gupta, Director (Technical), THDCIL, highlighted that this MoU marks a significant milestone in the organization's mission of providing high-end consultancy services and enhancing infrastructure resilience in landslide-prone regions.
THDCIL, which has previously provided services to the Royal Government of Bhutan and executed critical projects like the Varunavat Parvat landslide mitigation in Uttarkashi, continues to support infrastructure stability in J&K, including ongoing projects for the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and National Highway stretches in Doda, Ramban, Patnitop, Kishtwar, and Chenani.
The ceremony was also attended by Praveen Kumar, Director, GSI Jammu; Ravinder Kaul, Manager, Shrine Board; Ishan Bhushan, Assistant Manager (CC), THDCIL; and Amninder Singh Nayyar, Geo-Technical Engineer, THDCIL.
This collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in protecting the vital pilgrimage route and enhancing the safety, resilience, and spiritual experience for millions of devotees visiting the holy shrine each year. |
